The Columbus Dispatch

Columbus schedules interfaith meeting on Rosh Hashanah

- Danae King

Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther hosted an interfaith event on Tuesday, one of the holiest days in the Jewish calendar.

Ginther tweeted on Tuesday about the Interfaith Collaborat­ive Meeting to give faith leaders the chance to meet with the new Columbus Division of Police Chief Elaine Bryant.

It was also the first day of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and a day of prayer. It marks the beginning of the Days of Awe, the holiest period of the Jewish calendar, during which Jews reflect and reconcile with people they may have wronged.

“We were disappoint­ed to learn about this meeting,” said Joel Marcovitch, CEO of the nonprofit Jewishcolu­mbus. “It was scheduled on one of the holiest days in the Jewish calendar.”

Marcovitch said the organizati­on called several local rabbis to see if they were invited to Tuesday's event. None had received a formal invitation, he said.

Melanie Crabill, director of media relations for the city and Ginther, said the meeting was just one in a series and had been reschedule­d from another date to accommodat­e attendees. The meeting was hosted at the Linden Community Center.

Crabill did not comment on how it was determined who was invited and didn't say who attended, but sent a list of email addresses for those who were invited to Tuesday's event.

The list included 15 faith leaders, most representi­ng Christian churches or organizati­ons. The email address of one local rabbi — Rabbi Stephen Slater of Congregati­on Agudas Achim — also was on the list. Slater, who began at the synagogue in July, said he did not get an invitation to the meeting and declined further comment on Tuesday's event.

Slater did say that said he had been

to another gathering of faith leaders with Ginther and was happy the city was doing the outreach. He also said he enjoyed meeting other local faith leaders and hopes to go to future events. Another meeting is scheduled later this month at a local library, Crabill said.

“We're hoping to continue to cast a wide net so that we're including all of the religions represente­d in Columbus,” Crabill wrote in an email.

She said the meetings are an opportunit­y for small groups of faith leaders to “discuss recovery, resiliency and hope.”

“It's also a chance for leaders to meet with our new police chief,” Crabill wrote.

A spokespers­on from the Columbus Division of Police did not respond to a request for comment.

Marcovitch said having a conversati­on

about the Jewish community's unique security needs with the new police chief is very important.

“We're reaching out to the mayor's office in order to make sure that we also have some time with the chief of police,” Marcovitch said.

In May, a report from the Anti-defamation League (ADL) showed that antisemiti­c incidents are at a 40-year high in Ohio.

COVID-19 made it easier for people to harass Jewish people online, and the 2018 Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh and resulting increased security measures at local Jewish organizati­ons, still is top of mind for Columbus-area faith leaders.

“Safety and security of the Jewish community is our No. 1 priority, and we are very much looking forward to the opportunit­y to speak with the chief of police,” Marcovitch said. dking@dispatch.com @Danaeking

 ?? PROVIDED BY ROB HARDIN ?? Joel Marcovitch, CEO of Jewishcolu­mbus, said he was disappoint­ed to learn of the city’s interfaith meeting that took place on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
PROVIDED BY ROB HARDIN Joel Marcovitch, CEO of Jewishcolu­mbus, said he was disappoint­ed to learn of the city’s interfaith meeting that took place on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
 ??  ?? Ginther
Ginther

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States